Megumi Igarashi, who calls herself Rokude Nashiko -- offensive slang which loosely translates as "reprobate child" -- was arrested in July for trying to raise funds online to pay for the construction of a kayak, using a 3D printer, inspired by her genitals.

She was released days later following a legal appeal and after thousands of people signed a petition demanding her freedom.

But on Wednesday, Igarashi was re-arrested on suspicion of sending a link "that shows her plan to create a boat using three-dimensional obscene data to a large number of people," a Tokyo police spokeswoman told AFP.

She "tried to have those people who were willing to finance her plan download the 3D obscene data" in October last year, the spokeswoman said.

Igarashi also allegedly sold CD-Roms containing similar data during a May exhibition in Tokyo.